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Knowledge of children and youth from Namibia about HIV/AIDS
REGULOVÁ, Kristýna
The presented bachelor's thesis deals with the problem of HIV/AIDS in Namibia, the region of Karas, the city of Keetmanshoop, where the author spent three months researching the level of awareness of the danger of HIV/AIDS among children and youth. The goal of the thesis is to find out the level of awareness of the danger of HIV/AIDS disease among the children and youth in the specific region of Namibia. The questions cover these main interests: What is the current level of knowledge of the HIV/AIDS problem among children and youth in Namibia? What are the most common sources of information about the problem? What prevention programmes seem to be the most effective ones? What is the role of the school and the family in the public education? The results were quite satisfactory, 62% were familiar with two or three modes of transmission of the virus, and two or three correct ways of protection from the infection. To sum up, giving two correct answers out of three options was considered the optimal criterion of the respondents´ awareness of the problem. The research also made it clear that school was the major source of information for the majority of the pupils ? 77%, home and family came second ? 12%, 4% stated they got the information from friends, and 2% indicated the doctor who informed them. 5% did not get any information at all. This shows that school in Namibia plays an insubstitutable role in this field. This is supported by another answer ? 80% of the respondents state there are HIV/AIDS prevention programmes at their schools. Family comes second ? 32% of the respondents talk very often with their parents about sex and HIV/AIDS, 43% occasionally, 25% never. Also, 68% know an HIV positive person in their neighbourhood, and 69% answered they knew people who died of AIDS. The fact that HIV/AIDS is a real threat is confirmed by another outcome ? 84% of these young people fear of HIV/AIDS, and 93% think HIV/AIDS testing is very important. Three people took part in the qualitative research ? they live in Keetmanshoop, Namibia, in their jobs they are in direct contact with children and youth, and they have their own children as well. The interviews were made ? with a medic working in a clinic in a poor neighbourhood of Tseiblaagter and doing fieldwork, with the headmistress and teacher of primary school in Tseiblaagter, and with a social worker. The interviews were made in English, however, for the purpose of this paper (the part of which the interviews are) they were translated into Czech. The questions given concerned the problems of HIV/AIDS and effective primary HIV/AIDS prevention and education offered to children and youth. The questions also touched their personal experience in this field gained from their jobs. The outcome of the interviews with the adults, more or less, corresponds to that of the questionnaires filled in by the pupils. It shows that it is the interactive games, debates and peer programmes, organised in the communities, that are the most effective prevention programmes. It is summed up that, as for HIV/AIDS prevention, the school plays the most important part in the life of young generation. Schools should steer young people to resposibility and determination to protect themselves from HIV virus. It is obvious that family and close neighbourhood of the children, for some reasons, get engaged much less in this field. The reasons might be ? unawareness of the problem, missing parents, or the lack of positive examples on the side of the adults in the children´s neighbourhood. The future time will show if the present children are able to protect themselves from the disease in their future life.
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Analysis of the flu pandemic in the South Bohemian Region
HUDEČKOVÁ, Kateřina
In the thesis there are chronologically processed data about incidence of influenza Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 from its first incidence in spring 2009 in Mexico until the official end of the 6th phase of pandemic announced by the WHO in august 2010. These data were collected by means of secondary analysis. The thesis is focused on the Region of South Bohemia from the first proved incidence of Pandemic influenza (H1N1) 2009 here. The data necessary to meet the objectives of the work and to answer the research questions were collected in cooperation with the Regional Hygienic Station of the South Bohemia in České Budějovice. 3 deaths were analysed in the context of incidence of Pandemic influenza (H1N1) 2009 in the Region of South Bohemia and anti-epidemic measures were assessed. Differences in 121 people with Pandemic influenza (H1N1) 2009 in the Region of South Bohemia from the point of view of age and sex were described. In 52 people with the flu from the Region of South Bohemia ?traveller? history was recorded (these people were infected during their stays abroad) and most of them had stayed in Germany. Indicators of morbidity (ARI) in the Region of South Bohemia and in the whole Czech Republic were also processed and then graphically compared.
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A new variation of influenza A ("Pandemic H1N1 2009") - the issue of awareness of vaccination among seniors.
BEČKOVÁ, Věra
The theme of my thesis is the issue of the new strain of influenza A (H1N1 Pandemic 2009) and the associated awareness of vaccination amongst the elderly. The work is divided into two parts, a theoretical and practical part. In the theoretical part, I tried to comprehensively process the available knowledge on the origins, epidemiology and prevention of influenza with particular emphasis on vaccination, oriented towards the elderly. The practical part is focused on mapping the awareness of the elderly of the issue of vaccination against influenza and analysis of results from a research exploratory investigation. The data acquisition method I used was quantitatively oriented research using anonymus questionnaires. Altogether, I distribued 350 questionnaires; the final number for data processing was 191 questionnaires. In connection with the work I set four hypotheses: 1) More than a third of respondents were vaccinated against the new strain of influenza A (H1N1 Pandemic 2009), 2) The most common reason for not being vaccinated was a lack of information. 3) The size of the place of residence significantly contributes statistically to a sense of awareness of respondents on this issue, 4) More than half of respondents would like to obtain more information on the issue of the new strain of influenza type A (Pandemic H1N1 2009). I confirmed or refuted the formulated the hypotheses based on survey evaluation. The results of the survey showed that most respondents do not feel that they are sufficiently informed about the issue of the new strain of influenza, and therefore discard the use of vaccinations. With this work I would like to stress the importance of information, which can help people consider the risks of influenza and motivate them to be vaccinated. Vaccination is an important means of protection against influenza viruses particulary for high-risk groups including the elderly. For this reason I consider the dissemination of information as very important and I hope that my thesis also serves this purpose.
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Preparation of the pandemic plan - the course of the influenza pandemy caused by the Pandemic A (H1N1) 2009 virus in the Pilsen region.
VELKOBORSKÁ, Marcela
An influenza is an illness annually affecting 5-15 percent of the world population. During the influenza pandemy 40-50 percent of world population can be affected and millions of people can die.The measures resulting from the pandemic plans help to limit the influenza virus spreading, to reduce morbidity and mortality. In April 2009 the first cases of the flue pandemic caused by Pandemic A (H1N1) 2009 virus occurred on the American continent, in the Czech Republic there was the first case registered in May, in the Pilsen region in July. Based on these facts I decided to assess the pandemic plans at the level of the Pilsen region and to analyse the course of the pandemy in the Pilsen region too. Having studied the Pandemic plan of the Pilsen region and the Pandemic plan of the Regional Hygiene Station of the Pilsen Region I got to the conclusion that in case of the pandemy caused by the highly virulent tribe of the influenza it would not be possible to use up the pandemic plans efficiently. The disadvantages concern mainly the way of the distribution of the pandemic vaccine and antivirotics. The other disadvantage is the absence of a parenteral form of antivirotics. A bad awarness of the inhabitants also came out effecting mass rejection of vaccination by the pandemic vaccine and preventative taking antivirotics. The analyse of the course of the pandemy in the Pilsen region proved that at many patients with the flue pandemic there was present a risky factor of more serious course of the influenza in the anamnesis. If these patients had been vaccinated by the pandemic vaccine they had been entitled for, they could have been protected against this illness, for some of them the vaccination might have meant life-saving. It was also proved that originally the pandemic tribe of Pandemic A (H1N1) 2009 virus became the causer of the common seasonal influenza in the season of 2010-2011.
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Epidemiological analysis of the incidence of influenza type A in the region Jindřichův Hradec with a comparison of the Jihočeský kraj (South region) for 2009 and 2010
NOVÁKOVÁ, Petra
The bulk of the thesis is focused on influenza A. The current theoretical knowledge in virological, epidemiological and clinical fields is summarized. Acute respiratory infections, including the influenza virus disorders, may be also caused by other agents. The most frequent agents which may be easily confused with influenza are also mentioned in the thesis in order to see the visible difference between these infections, which are often incorrectly referred to as influenza. The research part of the thesis deals with the epidemiological analysis of influenza incidence and its comparison in the district and regional levels. I have tried to evaluate the epidemiological situation within a two-year period. To compare the incidence of influenza A, I chose the Jindřichův Hradec region and compared the incidence in this region with that in the South Bohemian region. Both areas may be compared in terms of the diseases incidence, since all the data reported to the Regional Hygienic Station are standardized and calculated to the relative number of 100 000 inhabitants. I got the resources for the research at the Epidemiological department of the Regional Hygienic Station based in České Budějovice, where I used the EPIDAT program that is intended to ensure mandatory reporting, recording and analysis of infectious diseases in the Czech Republic, and looked up the necessary data for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. The data reported by general practitioners are divided into calendar weeks and age groups according to newly emerged diseases. However, individual types of influenza viruses are not mentioned, because not every acute respiratory disease is virologically verified in the laboratory or subsequent tests in the National Reference Laboratory are not carried out. Therefore, available data do not provide the exact incidence rates of influenza in a given period and place. Another important information resource was data on the tests frequency and the results of biological material laboratory tests which were conducted in the tracking period in the National Reference Laboratory for influenza. By analyzing available data it was possible to come to conclusion that in the tracking period influenza and influenza-like illness incidence rates did not reach the emergency epidemiological situation, even though in the region the epidemic threshold was crossed, it was only a short term condition.
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The Integrated Rescue System Activity and the Protection of the Public from a Possible Importation of Highly Contagious Diseases into the Czech Republic by Air Transfer
TOUSECKÝ, Peter
At present time of modern worldwide tourism using air transport, the risk of spreading an infectious disease in the Czech Republic cannot be underestimated. Air transport has become quite common way of travelling for Czech citizens so the travel time has shortened significantly. From this viewpoint Czech residents are at potential hazard of highly infectious diseases (HID). This Diploma thesis deals with biological agents which are divided into four risk groups on the basis of patogenes, a hazard to the staff and possible treatment and prophylaxis. Each of the groups requires different level of protection against the infection and its spread. The groups are graded from 1 to 4, i.e. BSL-1, BSL-2, BSL{--}3 and BSL{--}4. Biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) poses a high individual risk of life-threatening diseases where no prevention and treatment are available. This group includes various viral hemorrhanic fevers (VHF) accompanied by heavy tissue bleeding which can be caused by philoviruses, arenaviruses, buniaviruses and flaviviruses. These virus families include viruses like Ebola, Marburg, Lassa, Junin (Argentine VHF), Machupo (Bolivian VHF), Sabia (Brazilian VHF), Guanarito (Venezuelan VHF), Rift Halley fever, Hanta virus, Variola virus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and others. Even the hazard of BSL-3 biological agents with, in history well-known, Bacillus anthracis should not be ignored. The hazard of highly infectious diseases (HID) related to tourism consists in the incubation period. Tourists are infected during their stay abroad and on their way back to the Czech Republic the disease is highly developed. The HID transmission to other people confined in the space of the plane is then very simple. The attention is also paid to the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus which showed the possible ways of infection identification and population protection in the Czech Republic together with all subsequent effects.
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Creation of pandemic plan for medical institutions
VLAS, Vlastimil
The aim of this B.A. level is to analyse the risk of creation of a pandemic caused by a new influenza virus. This academic paper particularly discusses the fact whether hospitals are prepared for emergency situations when the number of hospitalised persons is rising enormously. This thesis introduces and analyses the Czech National Pandemic Preparedness Plan, as well as the plan relating to the South Bohemia Region with respect to the fact that every state is obliged to have its pandemic preparedness plans. Furthermore, the thesis attempts to ascertain whether these plans are in compliance with proposals and measures introduced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Union. WHO has been monitoring the influenza virus since the end of World War II. For this monitoring, WHO has been using the influenza preparedness programmes. Due to these programmes we may be able to foresee the creation of pandemic to certain extent. However, despite the facts mentioned above, the risks still remain on a rather high level since for example in South-East Asia, contamination of humans via the bird flu is quite common. Some sources believe that if a new influenza pandemic occurs in the world, it will break out exactly in South-East Asia, and therefore it is necessary to monitor this location carefully. Furthermore, this thesis focuses on describing the influenza virus, what structure it has, and, in particular, what difficulties it causes to humans. In the Czech Republic, seasonal influenza is quite common in relation to which basic differences in the symptoms are also discussed in this paper. The thesis subsequently focuses on the description of the treatment for both seasonal influenza, as well as bird flu since they differ significantly. Nowadays, also the issue of influenza vaccination is being discussed quite often. It is necessary to state that vaccination is not suitable for all citizens and that it may not protect us from a pandemic caused by new influenza virus. In this thesis, the expression ``influenza pandemic`` has been explained and plans of substantial importance playing the role of measures preventing the creation of pandemic have been described. Furthermore, an analysis of the Czech National Pandemic Preparedness Plan, with special focus on the South Bohemia Region, has been carried out. It is a well-known fact that the first occurrence and the most afflicted area of the bird flu virus in 2006 (the infected swan) was in the České Budějovice area.
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Risk assessement as a method for evaluation of preventive and crisis measures in the control of avian influenza in the Czech republic
NOVOTNÁ, Lucie
The topic of my bachelor thesis is: {\clqq}Risk assessment as a method for evaluation of preventive and crisis measures in the control of the avian influenza in the Czech Republic``. Humanity has already fought with a series of diseases since the beginning of their existence. Recently the avian influenza has come into prominence. The history of the avian influenza, which stroke a wide spectrum of avian kinds, is probably very long, however the public became interested in it after the transmission to a human in Hong Kong in 1997. It has been responsible for hundreds of human deaths since. In my bachelor thesis, I was trying to estimate the possible risks of preventive and crisis measures in the control of the avian influenza in the Czech Republic. The {\clqq}word`` method of risks estimation was used and three possible risks, which could occur during an outbreak of the avian influenza in the Czech Republic, were selected {--} the risk of a human contagion by the avian influenza; the risk of a poultry contagion by the avian influenza and the risk of an outbreak of a pandemic virus. While estimating the risks, activities associated with the liquidation and prevention of the bird flu by the integrated rescue system, activities of the breeders and activities of the public were taken particularly under consideration. In terms of spreading of the disease, activities presenting the least risk seem to be those of the integrated rescue system. This is due to the fact that its members have been given an adequate training and education. The importance of the populace for the possibility of spreading the bird flu seems to be relatively low, however an appropriate degree of foreknowledge is highly recommendable. It was found that in terms of spreading the avian influenza, it is the breeder and other staff members associated with the farm, that are of particular importance. This is especially the case if they are not fully adhering to the appropriate level of disinfection and missing out on duties given by the law.
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Risk Analysis, Prevention And Following Crise Measures During A Possible SARS Desease Importation
TOUSECKÝ, Peter
The topic of my bachelor thesis is {\clqq} The Risk Analysis, Prevention and Subsequent Crisis Precaution within Possible SARS Spreading.`` Nowadays SARS {--}Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome belongs to the possible threat to the population and starting with 12 th March 2003 the term SARS was defined as a risk phenomenon by the World Health Organization (WHO). As a matter of fact, SARS at the time of its beginning and spreading all over the world, didn´t occur in the Czech Republic and has been forgotten. More than ever it is necessary to remind the principal aspect of SARS origin and its potential impact on the inhabitants of the Czech Republic and its neighbouring countries in the case of SARS reccurence in the world. Educational training in a form of the anonymous questionnaire consisting of 80 respondents as well as information processing are the parts of my bachelor thesis. To the topic mentioned above I was motivated, at the time of SARS pandemic in the world, by the work in the Security Corps whose aim was monitoring and eliminating refugees inflow toEurope from the region of developing countries. Research data unambiguously prove that the developing countries were the area of SARS origin and occurence. Especially in 2003 in the land register of Strání Květná, district Uherské Hradiště, national border with Slovakia,the inflow more than 1000 refugees was recognized. But the estimates in this region start from the number of 5000 refugees who used this area of national border of the Czech Republic for illegal transferring to the developed European countries, namely Germany, with the help of passers. At that time the members of Force Corps had to face up to refugees drive although they were not trained and protected from SARS infection. I was interested in the problem of the infection transmission and I concluded that the fear in dealing with refugees in this post was wasted. SARS incubation period was maximum 10 days but the refugees´ transit from the country of origin especially from China to the Czech Republic was examined to the period from 1 to 3 months. The necessity to inform inhabitants of possible SARS transmission to Europe and the Czech Republic afterwords results from the mentioned personal knowledge.
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